Perth zoning for small homes

Backyard suite

A separate home in the yard of a house: garden suite, laneway suite or coach house, including prefab, modular or container units used this way.

Allowed · Perth’s term: “additional residential unit (ARU) in an accessory structure”

Where a single detached, semi-detached, row house or townhouse is permitted, one additional residential unit may be built in a detached accessory structure, provided the principal dwelling holds no more than one ARU. The lot must meet the zone's minimum lot area and frontage and front on an open, year-round public road. [1]

Number allowed: Maximum 2 ARUs per property; 1 ARU may be in an accessory structure if the principal dwelling has no more than 1 ARU (s.4.2 a) [2]
Maximum size: Gross floor area of an ARU shall not exceed the gross floor area of the principal residential use (s.4.2 e) [2]
Maximum height: 4.5 m (14.7 ft) for a new ARU in an accessory building; not permitted as a second storey on an accessory structure (s.4.2 n, o) [2]
Setbacks: A new accessory building used as an ARU must conform to all provisions for the principal dwelling, including setbacks and lot coverage (s.4.2 l) [2]
Servicing: Must connect to the same water supply and sewage disposal system as the principal dwelling (s.4.2 c) [2]
Parking: 1 parking space per additional unit, for the occupant's sole use; tandem permitted; shared driveway entrance except on certain corner lots (s.4.2 f, h, j) [2]
Where allowed: Lots meeting zone minimum lot area and frontage, with frontage on an opened and maintained year-round public road; not on private roads or EP-zoned lands; max lot coverage 45% with an ARU (s.4.2 d, g, m) [2]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario law stops municipalities from banning one residential unit in a building ancillary to a detached house, semi-detached house or rowhouse on a parcel of urban residential land, as long as the lot has no more than three units in total. Municipalities still set most other zoning rules, but provincial law limits parking requirements, minimum unit size, lot coverage and separation distances. These units are also exempt from development charges and parkland dedication. [3][4][5]

Tiny home on a foundation

A small house as the main home on its own lot. The key rule is any minimum dwelling size.

Allowed · Perth’s term: “single detached dwelling”

The R1 zone requirements for single detached dwellings set lot area, frontage, yards, height and coverage but no minimum dwelling floor area. Perth has no rural zone. [1]

Minimum dwelling size: None set in the R1 zone requirements for single detached dwellings (s.6.2); minimum lot area 366 m², frontage 12.2 m [6]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario law sets no minimum total size for a house that is the main dwelling. The Building Code sets minimum room areas, so the smallest compliant dwelling is roughly 17.5 m² by the Province's own estimate. Municipalities may still set minimum floor areas for main dwellings in their zoning by-laws. The provincial ban on minimum sizes covers only additional residential units. [3][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Living full-time in a tiny home on wheels or a park model home.

Not allowed · Perth’s term: “recreational vehicle / park model trailer / mobile home”

The by-law's definition of dwelling excludes recreational vehicles and park model trailers, and human habitation is not permitted in motor vehicles except temporary RV occupancy where specifically permitted; no zone permits mobile homes or trailer parks for residents. A mobile home (not a park model or RV) may only be used as a garden suite under a site-specific temporary use by-law. [1]

Where allowed: Human Occupancy Restriction (s.4.31): no truck, bus, coach or motor vehicle of any kind, on wheels or not, may be used for human habitation, excluding temporary occupancy of recreational vehicles where specifically permitted [13]
Temporary garden suite: One garden suite (one-bedroom, may be a mobile home but not a park model trailer, travel trailer or other RV) accessory to a single or semi-detached dwelling, only by a site-specific temporary use by-law under s.39 of the Planning Act; max height one storey up to 5 m (16.4 ft); 3 m (9.8 ft) rear setback; owner agreement required (s.4.15) [14]
Maximum size: Garden suite maximum gross floor area 60 m² (645.8 ft²) (Table 1) [15]
Approvals: 'Dwelling' excludes any tent, recreational vehicle or park model trailer (s.3 Definitions) [16]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario has no single rule for living full-time in a tiny home on wheels. A unit on wheels can count as a 'building' that needs a permit and must meet the Building Code once it stays in one place, is hooked up to services or is anchored. Park model trailers are recognized only as seasonal recreational buildings. Municipalities may allow a portable garden suite under a temporary-use by-law for up to 20 years, with extensions of up to 3 years each. [12][7][3][9][8]

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

A small sleeping building with no kitchen, usually beside a cottage or house.

Not allowed · Perth’s term: “residential accessory building”

Human habitation is not permitted in any private garage or residential accessory building except where the by-law permits it (such as an additional residential unit). Perth has no rural or waterfront residential zones and the by-law does not provide for sleeping cabins. [1]

Maximum height: Accessory buildings in residential zones: 4.5 m (14.75 ft) (Table 1) [17]
Approvals: s.4.31 b): human habitation not permitted in any private garage, residential accessory building or structure (except where permitted by this by-law) [18]

Ontario-wide rule

Ontario law has no rule written specifically for bunkies or sleeping cabins. Whether one needs a building permit depends on the Building Code Act's definition of 'building' and the Code's shed exemption. That exemption covers only storage-use sheds, so it does not cover a structure used for sleeping. Municipal zoning rules for accessory buildings still apply. [9][7][3][19]

Official links

Last confirmed October 2026.

Notes and caveats

Read By-law 5276 as passed (certified true copy, passed by Council August 20, 2026); it is not an office consolidation, so bylawConsolidation is null. The Town's zoning update page says the new by-law is effective September 17, 2026 (Notice of Passing file is named 'revised date to sept 16th'); the page does not mention appeals, so OLT appeal status is unconfirmed. Former By-law 3358 is superseded. The adoption cover page's text layer shows a garbled day ('^0 day of 2026'); the certification page states August 20, 2026. No ARU or garden suite guide found.

Sources

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Perth zoning for small homes

Backyard suite

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on a foundation

Ontario-wide rule

Tiny home on wheels or park model

Ontario-wide rule

Bunkie or sleeping cabin

Ontario-wide rule

Official links

Sources

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